Anderson's focus on MU

Thursday

Jan 29, 2009 at 12:01 AMJan 29, 2009 at 11:39 AM

Steve Walentik

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Mike Anderson has found himself on the list of candidates Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore could pursue to fill the Crimson Tide's head basketball coaching position left vacant by Mark Gottfried's sudden resignation earlier this week.

His name has been reported along with others such as Minnesota Coach Tubby Smith, Virginia Commonwealth Coach Anthony Grant and Alabama-Birmingham Coach Mike Davis.

Anderson, a Birmingham native, last night sidestepped a question about whether he'd have interest in the position.

"Right now, this is the most important right now," he said after his team's 88-72 loss to Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. "I'm the head coach at the University of Missouri. I'm focused on having a great season. We're in a battle right now, so that's where my focus and that's where my energy is right now."

His response was much less emphatic than the one Smith gave when asked about the situation earlier in the day.

"I'm happy here in Minnesota," Smith said, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I'm not looking for any jobs. We've got a great recruiting class coming here next year, so I'm excited about where the Gopher program is, and I'm not a candidate for any other jobs.